NEWS

Senior catches Pavin on top of board at Allianz, Langer one shot back

By Associated Press
Published on
Senior catches Pavin on top of board at Allianz, Langer one shot back

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Corey Pavin and Peter Senior -- both winless on the Champions Tour -- shared the lead Saturday after the second round of the Allianz Championship at Broken Sound Golf Club.

Pavin followed his opening 8-under 64 with a 70 to match Senior at 10 under. Senior had a 68.

Mark Calcavecchia and Bernhard Langer were a stroke back. Calcavecchia had a 68, and Langer a 69.

Pavin had a two-shot lead with two holes left, but bogeyed the 17th -- his lone bogey of the day -- and Senior birdied the 18th. Pavin is making his 35th career Champions Tour start, Senior his 48th.

"I played solidly," Pavin said. "I didn't get as much out of this round as I did (Friday), but it was difficult out there with the wind coming from a different direction."

Senior overcame a bogey on the par-5 first hole with five birdies on his last 13 holes. The Australian had a one-shot lead heading into the final round last year, but shot a 77 and faded to 17th.

"I have more confidence than I did this time last year, because I'm playing better," Senior said. "I know I'm close to winning."

Calcavecchia was 3 over after three holes, then finished with seven birdies. He's shooting for his 12th consecutive top-10 finish on the Champions Tour. Don January holds the record with 36 from 1980-84.

"I wasn't thinking about winning when I walked to the fourth tee, I can promise you that," Calcavecchia said. "I have never been this consistent in my career. If I putt well, I'm going to have a good chance."

Langer won at Broken Sound two years ago when he holed a bunker shot in a playoff with John Cook and lives just minutes from the course.

"It's going to take a lot of patience," Langer said. "You need to try and hit as many greens as possible because it's going to be difficult to get up-and-down for pars."

Peter Jacobsen shot the day's best round, a seven-under 65, to move into a fifth-place tie with J.L. Lewis (67), Michael Allen (67) and Joey Sindelar (69) at 7 under.

"I didn't expect this," said Jacobsen, returning from his 17th surgery, a laser operation last November to remove bone spurs in his lower back.

Defending champion Tom Lehman was 1 under after a 72.